Mouth and ear protector



2, 19.54 A. DELIA MOUTH AND EAR PROTECTOR' Filed Sept. 15, 1951 INVENTOR I Ani/wnyfi 11m ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1 954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUTH AND EAR PROTECTOR Anthony DElia, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1951, Serial No. 246,403

The present invention relates to a mouth and ear protector and it particularly relates to a mouth and ear protector which may be readily placed on and around the mouth and ears of a person to protect them from dust, fumes and the like.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, readily manufactured and readily applicable mask or protector of sheet material which may be readily applied to or around the mouth or ears of a person to protect them against smoke, fumes and dust.

Another object is to provide a readily disposable and inexpensive lip protector which may be readily placed upon the face to protect dresses and clothing against contact with the lips, or wiping oif of the lipstick in connection with the trying on of dresses.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by Way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most suitable, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, to form a strip of material which is of such a size and contour as to extend across the lips and around the sides of the face and engage the ears of the wearer. The band or mask should be of such a size and shape as to comfortably cling to the face without obstructing vision or interfering with the breathing or hearing of the wearer.

In a preferred structure, the strip of material may be formed of oil silk, vinyl film, absorbent paper, or fabric gauze, or other materials, and it desirably has end engagements to fit around and desirably cover the openings of the ear cavity. At th same time the portion covering th lips may be provided with spacer tabs to space the band from the lips to permit comfortable speaking or opening of the mouth, and at the same time it should not be so wide as to interfere with breathing through the nostrils.

In the preferred form of the invention the mask may be made of double thickness or have end pockets which engage both the back of the ear and cover the front of the ear.

In a preferred form the front portion of the mask may also have upper and lower turned in 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-147) portions to space the same from the lips of the wearer.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists of the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the mask construction according to the present application showing it in position upon the face of the wearer.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 22 of Fig. l and upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the mask of Fig. 1 removed from the wearer and extended to its fullest length.

Fig. 4 is a transverse longitudinal sectional view taken upon the line 5i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of mask construction as applied to the face of a wearer.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary inside perspective view of the mask of Fig. 5 showing the spacer construction to space the front of the mask where it extends over the lips.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 the mask is shown engaging the ears B and extending across the lips C of the head A of the wearer.

The mask as shown has a lip covering portion D, and ear engaging portions or pockets E. If desired, the front I!) of the mask may be formed of a sheet of oil silk, vinyl film, absorbent paper, matted paper, or even fabric gauze. It is out out as indicated at H and I2 to form a downwardly curved central band I3 which extends across the lips C of the wearer. The edges as indicated at [4 and [5 then converge outwardly to form the end enlargements Hi, the enlargements it having upper curved portions ll and lower depending portions I 8 to conform to the ear structure.

The edges ll, l2, l4, l5, I9, 20 and 2| are stitched to finish the same. At the ear engaging pockets E there is a rear flap portion 22 which is cut ofi in a curve as indicated at 23 and is turned inwardly as indicated at 24 and stitched 3. to the inturned edge portions of the outer ply It.

The edges 25 of the inter ply 22 will engage the rear recesses as indicated at 26 and 21 of the ear B.

If desired, breathing openings may be provided, as indicated at 28,. at the central curved portion I3 of the mask.

The mask as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is readily applied to and around the face of the wearer, and the pockets E will permit ready engagement and covering of the ears and also provide breathing through the openings 28.

The openings 28 may be provided with a filter or screen if desired.

In the embodiment of Figs. and 6, the mask F has a lip engaging portion G, a spacer H and an ear engaging portion J. It readily engages the ears K and covers the lips L of the head M of the wearer.

The upper and lower edges as indicated at 59 and 5| are cut so as to conform to the front portion of the face of the wearer M, and the tab H may extend directly inwardly from the upper edge 55 to get the space as indicated at 52.

The tab H may extend the entire length of the upper edge 59 and it may also be applied to the lower edge 5|. The ear engagement end portion J is formed by the upper curved element 52 and the lower pointed element 53 between which extends the curved cut portion 54.

This cut terminates at 55 and 56 short of the edges 51 and 58. It forms a flap 59 which, as indicated in Fig. 5, will protect the ear of the wearer.

As many changes could be made in the above mouth and ear protector, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claim, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

A protector mask for application between the ears and across the lips or the head of a user comprising a curved band of one ply thin sheet 'material with end two ply ear engaging portions,

said ear engaging portions consisting of pockets to cover the back and front of the ears, said material being stitched around the edges and being provided with a row of very small openings extending laterally across the position of the lips.

ANTHONY DELIA.

References Giterl in the file of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS 

